4. Finding Keys

"Stay away from him," Clyde commanded.

The giant figure shifted to the side, and his eyes fixed on Clyde.

"Ar-are you okay?" Clyde sounded nervous with one hand extended to Jalen.

Jalen nodded, then accepted Clyde's outstretched hand. "Thank you."

"Pft, guard's lackey!" sneered the prominent figure.

He stood up and staggered toward the kitchen.

Jalen oversaw him. The big guy was pretty safe; Jalen could handle him. However, the guy's impulsive actions could endanger the others.

"He's Finn," Clyde suddenly blurted out.

It seemed the guard had been observing Jalen silently. Jalen turned and looked at him without suspicion.

"That big guy?"

Clyde nodded. "He's a gang member, something like that. Arrested for weapons trafficking."

"No wonder he likes pointing a gun at people," Jalen commented.

"All prisoners are dangerous," Clyde said, reholstering his pistol. He tucked it into a holster on his suspenders.

Jalen smirked. "Including me."

Clyde's head nodded awkwardly. "I guess so."

They both went to the kitchen and began filling their stomachs with food. Jalen thought about the fate of the other inmates. After all, their safety was crucial.

Twenty inmates were divided into several groups, sitting at a distance from each other. Jalen observed their behaviour one by one. Meanwhile, Jalen sat side by side with Clyde.

Jalen felt a gap between him and the other prisoners. It was as if he was the guards' lackey.

"You look more like a soldier," Clyde remarked.

"Why's that?"

"Well, the corrupt ones are in Complex 1; I know what they're like," Clyde paused, "Weak, spoiled, and full of complaints. Not like you."

Jalen just nodded. "I guess I'm different."

Clyde grinned bitterly. "You look like a mafia boss. That's different from being a corrupt official, of course."

Chip approached Jalen along with the handcuffed inmates. Their faces looked gloomy.

"Jail, have you found a solution?" Chip asked.

One of the inmates showed his hands. "We don't want to be handcuffed like this forever."

"We have to find the key," another inmate added.

Jalen raised both his palms, indicating they should stay quiet.

"We can't be reckless," Jalen said, looking at each of them. "We need to find the guard with the key, wherever he is."

"Just get us out of here, man," Chip urged.

Clyde cleared his throat. "There's a key that can unlock all the handcuffs in the guard's room."

"Now, we're talking," Chip chuckled.

The young guard then informed them they had to go down to the first floor.

They had to walk through the corridors until they reached the boundary between Buildings A and B. The guard's room was there. To get there, they had to pass through three automatic gates.

Fortunately, Clyde had a manual key to open them.

"We get the key, then what? Where to?" Chip asked.

"We find the key. Unlock the automatic gates, then head to the communication room. After that, to Complex 2," Jalen answered.

"Hopefully, no one there has been infected," mumbled Clyde.

Infection? Was there an indication of an outbreak in this prison? Jalen wondered.

"I think we should plan our route," Clyde suggested.

So, from the guard's room, they had to return to the stairs to the second floor. Next to the stairs to the second floor were the stairs to the basement. The hydraulic control room was there.

Clyde would open the door to Building A.

The layout of Complex 1 formed a square: A and B, then C and D. In Building A, they had to find the automatic control room again to unlock the key to Building D.

Or to Building C so they could reach the last building, D.

When combined with Complex 2, it seemed to form the number eight.

It was more challenging than it sounded to accomplish all of that.

Jalen stood up and walked to the middle of the kitchen.

"We're going to the guard's room. If anyone wants to join us, you're welcome," Jalen said.

No one answered from the remaining inmates. They just stared at Jalen warily. Of course, they didn't want to take unnecessary risks.

"What's the guard's room for?" Rat asked.

"Getting handcuffs key."

Other inmates scoffed; some even held back laughter.

"Risking our lives to free you from those shackles?" one of the inmates said. "Go ahead, man."

"Wish you good luck," another inmate commented.

Jalen didn't want to linger to respond to the sarcastic remarks.

He walked toward the kitchen door, then pulled the chair slowly. The handcuffed inmates followed Jalen from behind, including Clyde.

Chip handed Jalen a frying pan with a handle. "Just in case."

A silent thank you was shown by Jalen.

The door opened slowly.

The atmosphere outside was dim and dark because the electricity was entirely out. Jalen's small group needed to complete their mission quickly, or they would get into trouble can't see in the darkness.

"Where to?" Jalen whispered.

"Right," Clyde replied.

They walked hurriedly, passing the dining area. Blood puddles were visible on the floor, emitting a pungent smell. But, no one's body lay there.

Their route took them back to where they were released from their cells: to the stairs. Upstairs to where Jalen's cell was. Then downstairs to the first floor.

Jalen glanced briefly at the stairs leading to the basement.

He suddenly stopped.

"What's wrong?" Chip whispered tensely.

"Why don't we open the automatic door first?" Jalen said. "It's easier for us, isn't it?"

Clyde seemed to realize his mistake. "You're right."

The small group descended the stairs to the basement, which was pitch black. Clyde turned on the flashlight; he walked to the front with Jalen following him.

At the last step, they headed straight to a door with a security gate in front of it. Clyde searched for the correct key from the keychain.

"Can you go faster?" Chip requested.

"I'm trying," Clyde muttered, slightly irritated.

'Click!'

The gate key was finally unlocked. Clyde stepped forward and was about to open the door to the control room. But the young guard froze, looking surprised. The door was slightly ajar.

One of the inmates stepped forward and pushed the door wider. Then someone from inside lunged at him!